Electronic – Opamp precision PID loop without capacitors

capacitoroperational-amplifierpid controller

I am wondering if it is possible to create a hybrid PID circuit using opamps with key components whose values are programmable. Programmable resistors – no problem. But capacitors?

Best Answer

You only need to adjust the RC product to tune a PID controller, so there should be no problem if you have fixed (or discretely switched) capacitor values and adjustable resistors. You might need to switch capacitors of you have no idea of the plant characteristics and have to accommodate a huge range of possible parameters.

But more and more this kind of thing is done entirely in the digital domain. In particular, slower loops are excellent candidates,